Controversial plans to make it a criminal offence to praise terrorist attacks were significantly watered down by Home Secretary Charles Clarke yesterday.

He abandoned proposals - published only three weeks ago - which would have made it a crime to glorify terrorist acts contained in a list compiled by the Home Office.

But Mr Clarke stood by plans to allow police to detain terror suspects for up to three months before charge.

The offence of glorifying terrorism will still feature in a new Terrorism Bill but it will have to be proved that the person making the statement intended to incite further terrorist acts.

Commentators had said the previous drafting was too wide, with London Mayor Ken Livingstone suggesting it would have criminalised supporters of Nelson Mandela and the South African ANC 20 years ago.

Seeking to restore cross-party support for the plans, Mr Clarke wrote to his Conservative and Liberal Democrat shadows saying he thought he had found a way to "ameloriate some of the concern".

Mr Clarke also published new plans to give police powers to temporarily close down places of worship - such as mosques - which are being used by extremists.

The consultation paper said the new powers would be a last resort and police would attempt to solve problems at any place of worship with members of the community.

On the detention without charge limit, Mr Clarke said: "I remain convinced that we need to increase the limit to three months.

"The judicial oversight will mean that detention will only be possible if it is necessary and if the investigation is being carried out as expeditiously as possible."